Apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes



April 23, 1963 G. EHLSCHEID APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDINGENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23,. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

April 23, 1963 ca. EHLSCHEID APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDINGENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illll Illlll A IIIIIIHIIllllllllll W g aw ATTOKNEY.

G. EHLSCHEID April 23, 1963 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDINGENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K m? rt W00 ma. 6 5 2 9 IZ4 m ATTORNEK April 23, 1963 e. EHLSCHEID 9 3 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTINGAND BANDING ENVELOPES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AZ WM 1N VENTOR ZQMW A TTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,086,338 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDINGENVELOPES Giinther Ehlsclieid, Niederbieber, near Neuwied, Rhineland,Germany, assignor to Berkley Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,100 Claimspriority, application Germany Apr. 1, 1960 20 Claims. (Cl. 53-198) Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for grouping and banding a specificnumber of envelopes into packets, particularly in conjunction with theoutput of high speed envelope making machines.

The presentapplica-tion is an improvement in the ap paratus disclosed ina copending application Serial No. 22,769, filed April 18, 1960, now US.Patent No. 3,040,- 488. It has been discovered that with the apparatusof the type disclosed in the application, the conversion of more thanfour hundred envelopes per minute into packets, each containing a smallnumber of envelopes, requires considerable power to adequatelyaccelerate the conveyor stops when they slide between adjacent envelopesand for reciprocating the comparatively heavy carriages therefor in thetime available for making up a packet. This also leads to unevenoperation and comparatively heavy wear of the apparatus. Furthermore, alimit is imposed on any increase in output corresponding to the outputof modern high capacity envelope making machines.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providean apparatus of the type disclosed in the application which, whenconnected to a modern high capacity envelope making machine, groups theentire output into packets and bands the packets, while avoiding theabove mentioned disadvantages.

Other objects of the invention are to provide forcontinuous movement ofthe stops in a generally gyratory direction, and to provide a simplerconstruction that is more easily adapted for adjustment to differentsized packets.

The objects of the invention are achieved in part by an oscillatory stopthat is fixed in the direction in which the envelopes are conveyed fromthe envelope making machine, to hold the envelopes at a collectingstation until a number of envelopes have been collected to form thedesired packet, whereupon a pair of auxiliary stops and an upperauxiliary stop automatically execute a slight movement parallel to andacross the stream of envelopes. The advancement of the collected packsis achieved by pairs of grippers mounted on holders which are securedarticulately between chains that move by steps. chains are guided insuch a manner that one pair of grippers after another rises into thepath of the envelopes to engage therebetween a collected pack at thecollecting station, and after withdrawal of the stops the pack ofenvelopes is advanced therebetween to an intermediate station, andthrough the intermediate station to a banding station where a band iswrapped about the packet, and from the banding station to a stationwhere the grippers are withdrawn, to leave the banded packet forsubsequent advancement by following banded packets onto a deliverytable. The grippers are withdrawn by the chains and carried by thechains to complete another cycle.

As a result of the provision of an' intermediate station between thecollecting station and the banding station, the travel of the packetsper working stroke of the apparatus is very short in comparison with theconstruction disclosed in the aforementioned application. The auxiliarystops automatically insure penetration of the grippers between theenvelopes when a group has been collected, and serve as a stop for theenvelopes arriving from the envelope making machine while the grippersare advancing collected packs past the oscillatory stop. 7

In accomplishing the objects of the invention, improved construction hasbeen provided, the preferred form of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,- where- FIG. 5 is a detailed view on a largerscale of the scissors-shaped auxiliary stops in retracted position topass the envelopes from the conveyor worms.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the scissors-shaped auxiliary stops inposition for stopping the envelopes from the conveyors.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a part of the conveyor chains and showingthe mounting of a pair of grippers thereon, and particularlyillustrating the construction which permits spacing of the grippers toaccommodate packs of diiferent numbers of envelopes, the section beingtaken on the line 77 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal view of two adjacent chains, showing theconnection of the gripper mounting means therewith.

FIG. 9 is a cross section on the line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an apparatus for collecting packs A of envelopes B, with agiven number of envelopes in each pack, at a station P, with dischargeof the envelopes from the delivery end of an envelope making machine,and for separating the packs at a station P and advancing the packs to abanding station P in which a band is applied around each pack, to astation P where the packs are left for subsequent advancement underpressure by the following packs onto a delivery table 2, in accordancewith the output of a modern high capacity envelope making machine.

The delivery table 2 is connected with the envelope making machine, notshown, by laterally spaced apart extensions 3 and 4 for supporting andguiding the envelopes on edgenear their respective ends. The envelopes Bare conveyed along the extensions 3 and 4 by means of conveyor screws orworms 5 and 6 having the flights thereof circling the extensions 3 and4. Cooperating with the conveyor screws 5 and 6 is a conveyor screw orworm 7 of smaller diameter and of slightly longer length at the deliveryend thereof, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and. 2. An opening 8 correspondingto the space between the extensions 3 and 4 is provided in the deliverytable 2 for accommodating a mechanism 9 otor stopping and advancing thepacks A through the respective stations, as later described. The opening=8 has a width so that the ends of the packs are slidably supportedthereon as they are advanced over the opening to an abutment 10 that isslidable on the top of the delivery table to cooperate with the feed ofthe packs for maintaining the packs in compression to assure setting ofthe gum on the bands prior to removal of the banded packs for boxing.

Depending below the delivery table at opposite sides of the opening 8are side frames 11 and 12 connected at their lower edges by a cross bar13. The mechanism 9 includes two pairs of endless chains 14-15 and16-17, with the chains of each pair running along the side frames 11 and1-2 and in spaced apart relation, and the inner chains positioned inpartial advance of the outer chains. The outer chains 14 and 16 of therespective pairs are respectively carried on sets of upper sprockets 18and 19 and lower sprockets 20 and 21. The inner chains 15 and 17 arecarried on upper sprockets 22 and 23 and lower sprockets 24 and 25. Thesprockets 18, '19 land 21 of the outer chains are mounted on the sideframes for rotation on studs 26 which are secured by nuts 27 in bores orslots of the side frames. The sprockets 22, 23 and are mounted forrotation on studs 28 which are secured by nuts 29 in bores or slots ofan inner frame 30 secured to the side frames (FIG. 3) or in a supportmember 31 (FIG. 2) secured below the table top 2 at the rear end of theopening 8. The side frames 11 and 12 are rigidly secured to the underside of the table 2. The sprockets 20 constitute driving sprockets andare fixed along with gear wheels 32 on stub shafts 33 which are carriedby the side frames 11 and 12. The gear wheels 32 are in meshingengagement through intermediate gears 34 with gears 35 secured on acountershaft 36 that is rotatably mounted in the side frames 11 and 12.The sprockets 24 are fixed along with gears 37 on a shaft 38 that ismounted in a bracket 39 secured between the side frames 11 and :12 on atransverse plate 13. The gear wheel 37 meshes through an intermediategear 41 with a gear 42, also fixed to the countershaft 36. The gear 41is mounted on a shaft 38, also carried by the bracket 39 (FIGS. 1 and'10). The 'countershaft 36 is rotated rythmically by a steadily rotatingdriving shaft 43 through a Geneva movement or the equivalent, designatedby the numeral 43', to produce rotation with subsequent pauses, forinstance, in the ratio of 120 rotation to 240 pause on a 360 rotation ofthe driving shaft 43. During the 240 pause, the actual banding takesplace at the banding station P", as illustrated and described in theabove mentioned application. Accordingly, the sprockets 20 and 24 areperiodically driven, followed by substantially twice as long a pause asthe rotation.

Spaced along the length of each pair of chains are pairs of grippers 44and 45 for engaging the packs therebetween, as later described.

Each pair of grippers comprises flat blades that are carried by a bar46. Each bar has one end thereof connected by a pin 47 with asubstantially triangular shaped link 48 of one chain of the pair, andits opposite end connected by a pin 49 with .a triangular shaped link 50of the other chain of the pair (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the chainsare in operation, the bars are advanced in horizontal position abouttheir path of travel. One of the grippers 44 is fixed to an end of a bar46, while the other gripper is adjustably positioned on the bar to bespaced from the fixed gripper according to the number of envelopes to becontained in a packet. For this adjustment, the bar 46 has a pluralityof internally threaded openings 51, and the gripper 45 has a lateralfoot 52 having a slot 53. Passing through the slot 53 and into one oranother of the threaded openings 51 is a fastening device such as ascrew 54 for rigidly attaching the gripper. The grippers 44 are somewhatlonger than the grippers 45. The grippers project at substantially rightangles to the chain when they are being carried by the chains, to movein the longitudinal direction of the machine and in parallel relationwhen they are being carried rat the end runs of the chains, as shown inFIG. 1.

The speed ratio between the shaft 43 and the driving sprockets of thechains is such that the periodic advance of the chains is equal to themutual spacing of any two gripper-s 44, so that after each advance ofthe chains, the following gripper comes precisely in the place of theprevious gripper 44.

Pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 55 that is carried by an upwardlyprojecting ear 56 on the inner frame 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is a pivotedstop lever 57 which is immovable in the direction in whch the envelopesare conveyed along the delivery table 2, and the envelope stopping part58 of the lever can be adapted to the thickness of a pack. It is,therefore, a separate part ad-- justably attached to the stop lever byfastening devices such as screws 59 that have their shanks extendedthrough slot-like openings in a part of the stop 58 and which tighteninto threaded openings of the lever.

back relatively to the thickness of a pack. The stop lever 57 isyieldingly retained in position to engage the envelopes by a spring 60,having one end connected with a sloping terminal 61 of the stop lever 57and its opposite end connected with a part of the inner frame asindicated at 62, to normally hold the stop face 58 in the path of theenvelopes. The stop lever 57 is actuated pivotally to withdraw the stop58 from engagement with the envelopes and hold the stop 58 out ofengagement with the en-- velopes by cam shaped lugs 63 on the links ofthe inner chains, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Mounted above the stop 58 on an upper longitudinal guide 64 that extendsparallel with the table top 2 is a stop 65 that is reciprocable in abracket 66. The stop 65 is moved automatically into and out of the pathof the envelopes by means of a double-acting magnet 67, also carried bythe bracket 66. The bracket 66 is adjustably attached to the guide 64 byfastening devices such as screws 68 that extend through slotted portionsof the bracket and into the upper guide 64. By loosening the attachingscrews 68, the bracket can be shifted back or forth according to theadjustment of the stop 58, after which the screws 68 are retightened tosecure the reciprocating stop 65 over the stop 58 for engaging the upperportions of the envelopes.

Mounted close in front of the conveyor screws 5 and 6 is ascissors-shaped auxiliary stop 69 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 70that is carried on an arm 71, later described. The scissors-shaped stopcomprises two sections 72 and 73 that have curved outer ends 74 and 75adapted to be swung into and out of stopping relation with the envelopesas they pass from the flights of the screw conveyors 5 and 6. The lowerends of the scissor sections extend below the pivot pin 70 and areconnected by a coil spring 76 to normally hold the ends 74 and 75 in aposition in which they engage and stop the envelopes. The sections ofthe scissors-like stop are actuated against action of the spring by aroller 77 engaging between rollers 78 and 79 on the respective arms (seeFIGS. 5 and 6). The roller 77 is carried on the head of a rod 80 that ismounted for vertical displacement, With a slotted portion thereof guidedon a pin 81. The pin 81 is carried by the inner frame by means of ascrew 82. The rod 80 extends downwardly of the machine and has a forkedend 83 engaging over a shaft 84. (FIG. 1) The shaft 84 has a cam 85 thatengages a cam follower S6 rotatable on the forked end of the rod. Theshaft is driven in time with the chains to make one complete revolutionduring the time the chains are in motion, and is stationary while thechains are stationary. On the upward movement of the rod 80, the roller77 abuts against the rollers 78 and 79 on the sections 72 and 73 of thescissors stop to swing the ends 74 and 75 outwardly from stoppedrelation with the envelopes and to permit the envelopes to pass. Whenthe rod moves downwardly from between the rollers 78 and 79, the spring76 draws the upper ends of the arms inwardly into stopping relation withthe envelopes, for a purpose later described.

The arm 71 which carries the scissors stop projects from one end of areciprocatory rod 87 which is mounted for reciprocation parallel to thedirection in which the envelopes are conveyed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Theother end of the rod 87 carries a fork 88 wh ch engages over the drivingshaft 43 (FIG. 1). Fixed on the fork 88 by a pin 89 is a roller 99 whichengages a cam 91 on the shaft 43 to impart a reciprocating movement tothe rod 87 in time with the chain, to shift the scissors stop slightlyBy loosen-- ing the screws 59, the stop 58 can be moved forward or forengaging the tips of the longer of the grippers 44 (see FIG. when thegrippers move upwardly, as later to be described.

Directly above the upper ends of the scissors stop, on an extension 92of the arm '71, is a reciprocable stop 93 slidably mounted in a bracket'94 for movement into and out of the stream of the envelopes by means ofa doubleacting solenoid 95, also carried by the bracket. The bracket 94is fixed to a bracket 96 of theextension 92 by a clamping screw 9'7. Theclamping screw 97 has a stud which projects through a slot in the guidebracket and is threaded into the bracket 94. A backing plate 98 isadjustably fixed to the upper end of a recriprocatory rod 99 that slidesin bearings 10!) and 101 of the frame 30. The rod 99 carries rack teeth102 that mesh with a pinion gear 163. The pinion gear is actuated by asuitable driving connection, not shown, in timed relation to theperiodical feed of the chains. In addition to carrying the cam 85, theshaft 84 also carries cams for actuating electrical switches 67 and 95(FIG. 3) for controlling the doubleacting electromagnet 67 and thedouble-acting solenoid 95 for automatically moving the upper stops 65-and 93 into and out of position.

The upper guide 64 is carried by studs 104 fastened to the machine bymeans not shown, and adjustable according to the height of theenvelopes.

Rotatably mounted on the front end of the upper guide 64 in bearings 105and 106 is a transverse shaft 107 carrying rotary brushes 108 and 1119on the ends thereof for engaging the upper portions of the envelopes.The shaft 1117 is driven by a belt operating over a pulley 1113, asshown in FIG. 4.

Above the backing plate 93 is pivoted a stop 111 that is mounted on apin 112' in a bracket 112. The bracket 112 is secured to the upper guideplate by suitable fastening devices, so that it may be adjustedaccording to the size of the packets. A pin 113 on the bracket 112engages the tail portion 114 on the stop to hold the stop 111 in theposition shown in FIG. 1. The stop 111 will swing out of the way when abanded pack of envelopes engages it, but after thepack has passed, thstop 111 cannot swing retractively because of the tail portion 114striking the pin 113.

Carried by the upper guide plate is a member 115 for holding down a bandC that is to be applied to the envelope pack. The member 115 is carriedby :a rocker arm 116 on a pin 117 of a bracket .118. The rocker arm isrocked a fore and aft direction by a link 1119 for raising and loweringthe hold down member 115, which is also in timed relation with theperiodical feed of the chains.

In order that the section of chain carrying the grippers retains astraightaway direction while moving between the sprockets, the chainsare guided by bars 120 and 12 1, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The band C is fed across the path of the packs of envelopes between thestations P and P" asdisclosed in the above mentioned application, sothat as the pack is advanced against the band C, the band is drawnaround the upper and lower edges of the pack, as shown in FIG. 1. Upperand lower applicators 122 and .123 come into position between thegrippers and carry the ends of the band in overlapping and sealingcontact at the rear side of the pack. K ill 'i The apparatus constructedas described is connected with the delivery end of an envelop makingmachine, so that the finished envelopes are delivered along theextensions 3 and 4, with the envelopes being held upright by the flightsof theworrns 5, 6 and 7.

The upper longitudinal guide 64 is adjusted on the studs 104 totheheight of the envelopes. The stop lever 58 and its complementary'upperstop 65 are adjusted from the scissors stop 69 and the upperreciprocable stop 93 according to the number of envelopes to becollected into packs at the station :P. The band hold down member 6 115and backing plate 98 are correspondingly adjusted on the reciprocatingrod 99 and on theupper guide 64, respectively. The swing stop 111 isalso adjusted on the upper guide to be in position for preventingretractive movement of the packs after they have been pushed into thestation P'. All of .the shorter grippers 45 are adjusted on theirsupporting bars 46 to and from the longer grippers 44, to accommodatethe collected packs therebetween. This is readily effected by removingthe screws 54 and sliding the foot portions of the shorter grippers tothe desired position over a selected one of the threaded openings in thebars. The screws '54 are then inserted in the selected openings, asshown in FIG. 7.

With the driving shaft 43 in operation, the Geneva movement will drivethe shaft 38 followed by a pause, in the ratio of 120 rotation to 240pause, based on 360 rotation of the shaft 43. The conveyors aretherefore advanced in the direction of the arrow F distancescorresponding to the spaces between the grippers 44 of the respectivepairs followed by a pause between each movement. The pairs of grippersare carried by the chains so that they are successively advanced fromone station to the next, with a pause taking place at each station P, P,P and P'. At the time a pair of grippers reach the end of the opening orthe station P', the bars carrying that pair of grippers begin to movedownwardly by the chains to a position below the table top, where theybegin to move in the opposite direction along the lower runs of thechains to a position where the longer grippers are projected below thescissors stop 69 and the corresponding shorter gripper is directly belowthe pivoted stop 58, ready to be carried upwardly through the opening 8.

The scissors stop and the reciprocable stop 93 are periodically actuatedin time with movement of the grippers through the cam 91 andreciprocatory rod 87. The stop 58 will also be pivoted into and out ofstopping position whenever the tail portion 51 of the lever is contactedby the cam.- lugs 63- that are attached to links of the inner chain 16.

Assume that the feed of the envelopes by the conveyor screws 5, 6 and 7starts with the ends 74 and 75 of the scissors sections '72 and 73retracted, as shown in FIG. 5, and in front of the grippers 44 0f thepair of grippers 43 and 44 that are below the station P. The magnet 95has retracted the stop 93. The spring 87' is holding the reciprocatoryrod 87 in retracted position, so that the scissors stop 69 and the stop93 are in their forward position and out of pressing contact with thegrippers 44. The brushes 108 and 109, rotating in the direction of thearrow, FIG. .1, push the upper portion of the envelopes and facilitatetheir entry into the collecting station P, with the envelopesaccumulating against the stops 58 and 65. gUp to this time, the conveyorchains and grippers v are in stationary position. At the time the packhas reached its full number of envelopes, the conveyor chains and thegrippers carried thereon start moving. The cam 91 on the drive shaft 43pushes the rod 87 against action of the spring 87' to shift the scissorsstop and stop 93, so that the ends 74 and 75 of the scissors stop pressthe tips of the grippers 44, which are still below the path of theenvelopes, resiliently against the end of the conveyor screws 5 and 6.The conveyor chains continue to rnove, carrying the gripper 44 well intothe path of the envelopes. The cam on the shaft 84 now allows the rod 80to drop, for bringing the roller 77 downwardly from between the rollers78 and 79, so that the spring 76 draws the sections of the scissorstogether to cause sliding of the ends 74 and 75 off the grippers 44, asshown in FIG. 6, and into the path of the envelopes that are containedin the screws 5, 6 and 7. Simultaneously, the magnet has been energizedto project the stop 93 into the path of the envelopes. By this time, thechains have moved the grippers 43 and 44 upwardly of the front and manfaces of the collected pack 1, the grippers 44 having penetratedreliably into the gap between the last envespeaaas lope in the completedpack and the leading edges of the conveyor screws and 6.

By this time, the tail portion of the stop lever 57 has been engaged bythe first of a group of cam lugs 63 on the chain 15 to swing the stop 58downwardly out of the path of the envelopes. Simultaneously, the magnet67 has retracted the stop 65. By this time, the pivotal connections ofthe bar or holder 46 that carries this pair of grippers begin to movewith the upper runs of the chains, to carry the collected pack into theintermediate station P and widen the gap on the rear side of the pack.With the pack in the station P, the stop 58 and stop 65 are returned totheir stoppin position. The cam 91 allows the rod 87 to shift underaction of its spring 87' to shift the scissors stop and the auxiliarystop 93 away from the end of the conveyor screws. Also, the cam 85 hasraised the rod 80 to bring the roller 77 between the rollers 78 and 79to move the sections of the scissors stop outwardly to withdraw thecurved ends 74 and 75 thereof out of the path of the envelopes and infront of the next following grippers 44. Simultaneously, the magnet 95draws the stop 93 out of contact with the upper portion of theenvelopes. With these stops out of position, the conveyors come to rest.Another pack of the envelopes now begins to gather against the stops 58and 65 to start collection of another pack.

By the time another pack is collected and is ready to be removed fromthe position P, the chains begin to move and carry the previouslycollected pack from the station P to the banding station P, and thefollowing collected pack into the station P. A band C has previouslybeen fed across the path of the collected pack that is now moving fromthe station P, to push the band C ahead thereof and to bring the handagainst the backing plate 98, with the hold down member 115 engaging theportion of the band that is drawn across the upper side. of the pack. Onthe last movement of the conveyor chains, the backing plate 98 has beenlifted into position for abutment with the pack. The conveyor chains nowmake another pause, and the band applicators 122 and 123 move the endsof the band in overlapping sealed relation with the rear face of thepack in the station P, as disclosed in the above mentioned application.A laterally recipr-ocable plate 124 is movable into position between thepack and the ends of the band C by a rod 125 during the time the ends ofthe band are pressed together. This is particularly desirable whenenvelopes with fat folds are being handed. The adhesive on the band issufficient to hold the ends of the band together. The conveyor chainsagain start moving to carry the banded pack from the station P" to thestation P'.

At the completion of the band, the link 119 lifts. the band hold downmember 115. Simultaneously, the backing plate 98 is lowered by thepinion and rack connection with its supporting rod 99. The stop 111yields before the packet and swings back into its normal positionimmediately after the packet is in the station P', in order to preventthe packet from falling over on the delivery table.

When the packet is in the position P, the grippers 44 and 45 holdingthat packet are withdrawn by downward movement of the chains.

This finishes one complete working cycle, and during the working cycle apack is collected at the station P, another pack is in the station P,and another pack is in the banding station P, so that the operation iscontinuous.

The banded packets gather on the. delivery table 2 in closely pressedrelation, to hold the packets under the upper guide 64 during setting ofthe adhesive, so that by thetime the packets push out from under theguide 64 they are ready for boxing.

While the invention is described for the banding of envelopes, it isalso adapted for the banding of other flat articles in a similar manner.

It is obvious that with the present invention, the travel of the packsper working periods of the conveyor chains is very short in comparisonwith the working stroke of the pack moving means of the above mentionedapplication. Therefore, less power is required to accelerate themechanisms between pauses, and less time is required to get the parts inmotion. There is also a more even and smoother operation, withcomparatively less wear upon the working parts. Consequently, theapparatus is Well suited to handle the high output of modern envelopemaking machines. It is also obvious that the machine is operable to bandfat folded envelopes as well as tight folded envelopes.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine: means for moving envelopes through a path in face toface relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a stationfor collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number;means spaced from the said collecting station for providing a bandingstation; means spaced from the banding station for providing a stationfor subsequent advancement of the banded packs under pressure of onepack against another; endless chains; grippers carried by the chains;means mounting the chains with one run carrying the grippers across thepath of the envelopes and into engagement with respective faces of acollected pack in the collecting station, a run for carrying thegrippers with the pack therebetween to the banding station and from thebanding station to the pressure station, a run for withdrawing thegrippers at the last named station, and a run for returning the grippersto the beginning of the first named run; means for actuating the chainswith pauses when the grippers reach the respective stations; packbacking means at the banding station; means for reciprocating the packbacking means into and out of support of the pack while in said bandingstation; and means for actuating the reciprocating means in timedrelation with movement of the chains.

2. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from -an envelopemaking machine as described in claim 1, and including means forpreventing falling back of the banded packs after withdrawal of thegrippers.

3. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus includin g means for moving envelopesthrough a fixed path in face to face relation; means in the path of theenvelopes for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desirednumber and comprising upper and lower stops for movement into and out ofthe path of the envelopes for collecting the envelopes against saidstops; auxiliary stops spaced from the lower stop; means for moving theauxiliary steps into the path of the envelopes when the desired numberhas collected against the first named stops; endless chains; pairs ofgrippers having articulate connections with the chains; means mountingthe chains with one run carrying the grippers across the path of theenvelopes and into engagement with respective faces of the collectedpack, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to aseparating station to separate said pack from the following pack beingcollected between said stops and from the separating station to abanding station and from the banding station to a station for subsequentadvancement under pressure of one pack against the other, a run forwithdrawing the grippers at the last named station, and a run forreturning the grippers to the beginning of the first named run; andmeans for actuating the chains with pauses at the respective stations.

4. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine: means for moving envelopes through a path in face toface relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing a stationfor collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desired number;means spaced from the said collecting station for providing a stationfor holding the collected pack; means spaced from the last named stationfor pro- 9 viding a banding station; endless chains; pairs of grippershaving articulate connections with the chains; means mounting the chainswith one run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes andinto engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in thecollecting station, a run for carrying the grippers with the pack to thesecond of said stations to hold the collected pack while a previous packis banded at the banding station and advancing the banded pack from thebanding station, a run for withdrawing the grippers from the banded packafter advancement, a run for returning the grippers to the beginning ofthe firist named run; and means for actuating the chains with pauseswhen the grippers reach the respective stations and means for preventingthe banded packs from falling back during withdrawal of the grippers.

5. An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including means for moving envelopesthrough a path in face to face relation; means in the path of theenvelopes for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desirednumber and comprising stops for movement into and out of the path of theenvelopes for collecting the envelopes against said stops; auxiliarystops; means for moving the auxiliary stops into the path of theenvelopes when the number has collected against the first named stops;endless chains; pair-s of gripper-s having articulate connections Withthe chains; means mounting the chains to provide one run for carryingthe grippers across the path of the envelopes and into engagement withrespective faces of the collected pack, a run for carrying the gripperswith the pack therebetween to a station to separate said pack from afollowing pack being collected and from said station to a bandingstation and from the banding station to a station for subsequentadvancement under pressure of one pack against the other, a run forwithdrawing the grippers at the last named station, and a run forreturning the grippers to the beginning of the first name run; areciprocatory back support at the banding station for backing theenvelopes during banding thereof; a band holder above said back support;means for actuating the chains with pauses at the respective stations;and means for actuating said back support and band holder in time withthe actuation periods of the conveyor chains.

6. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flightsfor retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging theenvelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; upperand lower stops spaced from the end of the conveyor screws forcollecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and theends of the conveyor screws; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyorscrews; said auxiliary stops being normally out of the path of theenvelopes when the envelopes are being collected against the first namedstops; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chains carrying the grippers;means for supporting the chains to provide one run for projection of apair of grippers for movement across the ends of the conveyor screws forengagement with the respective faces of a collected pack, and a run formoving the collected pack from the collecting station; means foractuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with endsof the grippers in one position of pause in contact with the auxiliarystops; means for shifting the auxiliary stops against ends of thegrippers to press said grippers into contact with the ends of the screwconveyors during the projecting movement thereof into engagement withthe collected envelopes and for releasing said shifting pressure; andmeans for moving the auxiliary stops into position to hold back theenvelopes in the conveyor screws while the collected pack is shifted outof collected position.

7 An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flightsfor retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging theenvelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; apivoted lever supporting a lower stop spaced from the end of theconveyor screws; means for resiliently urging the pivoted lever to holdsaid lower stop in the path of the envelopes for collecting a desirednumber of envelopes between the said stop and the ends of the conveyorscrews; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyor screws normally outof the path of the envelopes; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chainscarrying the grippers; means for supporting the chains to provide onerun for projection of a pair of grippers for movement across the ends ofthe conveyor screws for engagement with the respective faces of acollected pack and a run for moving the collected pack from thecollecting station; means for actuating the chains with pauses at thecollect ing station and with ends of the grippers in one position ofpause in contact with the auxiilary stops; means for shifting theauxiliary stops to move said ends of the grippers into contact with theends of the screw conveyors during the projecting movement thereof intoengagement with the collected envelopes and for release of said shiftingpressure; means for moving the auxiliary stops into position to holdback the envelopes in the conveyor screws while the collected pack isshifted out of collected position; and cam plates on one of the chainsfor actuating said pivoted lever to move the lower stop lever out of thepath of the collected pack.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7 and including an upper stop overthe lower stop; an upper auxiliary stop; magnet means for actuating eachof said upper stops; and switches actuated by movement of the chains foractuating said upper stop with movement of the lower stop.

9. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flightsfor retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging theenvelopes in face to face contact at ends of the conveyor screws; upperand lower stops spaced from the ends of the conveyor screws forcollecting a desired number of envelopes between the said stops and theends of the conveyor screws; auxiliary stops at the ends of the conveyorscrews; means for moving the auxiliary stops into and out of the path ofthe envelopes when said number has been collected against the firstnamed stops; pairs of grippers; pairs of endless chains carrying thegrippers;

means for supporting the chains to provide one run for projection of apair of grippers for movement across the ends of the conveyor screws forengagement with the respective faces of a collected pack and a run formoving the collected pack from the collecting station; means foractuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with endsof the grippers in contact with the auxiliary stops; means for shiftingthe auxiliary stops to move said ends of the grippers into contact withthe ends of the screw conveyors during the projecting movement thereofinto engagement with the collected envelopes and for release of saidshifting pressure; and means for moving the auxfliary stops intoposition to hold back the envelopes in the conveyor screw-s while thecollected pack is shifted out of collected position.

10. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envc' lopes from anenvelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path inface to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing astation for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desirednumber; pairs of inner and outer endless chains; bars having endspivotally connected respectively with the inner and outer chains to becanied by the chains horizontally in a lengthwise direction between saidchains of the pairs of chains; a gripper fixed to one end of the bars; acorresponding gripper adjustable on the bars to and from the fixedgripper for spacing the grippers according to the number of envelopes tobe in a pack; sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains with one runcarrying the grippers for projection across the path of the envelopesand into engagement with respective faces of a collected pack in thecollecting station, said sprockets for the inner chains being positionedahead of the sprockets for the outer chains to retain the barssubstantially horizontal and the grippers all parallel and presented inthe same direction throughout their entire movement by the chains; andmeans for actuating one of the sprockets of both the inner and outerchains to drive the chains with pauses when the grippers reach thecollecting station.

11. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from anenvelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path inface to face relation; means in the path of the envelopes providing astation for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desirednumber; means spaced from the said collecting station for providing abanding station; means spaced from the banding station for providing astation for subsequent advancement of the banded packs under pressure ofone pack against another; pairs of inner and outer endless chains; barshaving ends pivotally connected respectively with the inner and outerchains to be carried by the chains horizontally in a lengthwisedirection between said chains; a gripper fixed to one end of the bars; acorresponding gripper adjustable on the bars to and from the fixedgripper for spacing the grippers according to the number of envelopes tobe in a pack; sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains with one runcarrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and intoengagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collectingstation, run for carrying the grippers with the pack therebetween to thebanding station and from the banding station to the pressure station, arun for withdrawing the grippers at the last named station, a run forreturning the grippers to the beginning of the first named run, saidsprockets for the inner chains being positioned ahead of the sprocketsfor the outer chains to retain the bars substantially horizontal and thegrippers all parallel and presented in the same direction throughouttheir movement by the chains through all of said stations; and means foractuating one of the sprockets of both the inner and outer chains todrive the chains with pauses when the grippers reach the respectivestations.

12. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes from anenvelope making machine, means for moving envelopes through a path inface to face relation, means in the path of the envelopes providing astation for collecting the envelopes into packs containing a desirednumber, pairs of inner and outer endless chains, pairs of grippers fixedto the inner and outer chains of the pairs at spaced points along thelength of the chains, sprockets mounting the inner and outer chains withone run carrying the grippers across the path of the envelopes and intoengagement with respective faces of a collected pack in the collectingstation, said sprockets for the inner chains being positioned ahead ofthe sprockets for the outer chains to retain the grippers all paralleland presented in the same direction throughout their entire movement bythe chains, and means for actuating one of the sprockets of both theinner and outer chains to drive the chains with pauses when the grippersreach the respective stations.

13. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flightsfor retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging theenvelopes in face to face contact into a collecting station at ends ofthe conveyor screws, upper and lower steps spaced from the end of theconveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between thesaid stops and the ends of the conveyor screws, pairs of endless chains,grippers carried by the chains of the pairs of chains, means forsupporting the chains to provide one run thereof for projection of apair of grippers across the ends of the conveyor screws and intoengagement with the respective faces of a collected pack, intermittentmeans for actuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station andwith ends of the grippers in one position below the ends of the conveyorscrews, an auxiliary stop comprising a pair of scissor sectionspivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path ofthe envelopes, means movably supporting said scissor sections with saidends in lapping engagement with the ends of the grippers in said pausedposition thereof, means for shifting the movable support for saidscissor sections to press said ends of the scissor sections against thegrippers to press the grippers into contact with the ends of theconveyor screws during movement thereof into engagement with thecollected pack to assure entrance between the last envelope of the packand the next following envelope held by the conveyor screws; and meansacting in timed relation with the chains for closing the scissorsections to move sm'd ends off the grippers and into the path of theenvelopes to hold back the envelopes that are carried by the screwconveyors when the chains move the grippers for carrying the collectedpack out of the collecting station.

14. An apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes as described inclaim 13, and including a screw conveyor between the first named screwconveyors and having an end projecting from the ends of the first namedscrew conveyors to facilitate carrying the envelopes into the collectingstation during pause of the conveyor chains.

15. An apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes from an envelopemaking machine, said apparatus including conveyor screws having flightsfor retaining the individual envelopes therebetween and discharging theenvelopes in face to face contact into a collecting station at ends ofthe conveyor screws, upper and lower stops spaced from the ends of theconveyor screws for collecting a desired number of envelopes between thesaid stops and the ends of the conveyor screws, pairs of endless chains,grippers carried by the chains of the pairs of chains, means forsupporting the chains to provide one run thereof for projection of apair of grippers across the ends of the conveyor screws into engagementwith the respective faces of a collected pack, intermittent means foractuating the chains with pauses at the collecting station and with endsof the grippers in one position below the ends of the conveyor screws,an auxiliary stop comprising a pair of scissor sections pivotallyconnected together and having ends normally out of the path of theenvelopes, means movably supporting said scissor sections with said endsin lapping engagement with the ends of the grippers in said pausedposition thereof, an upper auxiliary stop carried by the movablesupport, means for shifting the movable support for said scissorsections to press said ends of the scissor sections against the grippersto press the grippers into contact with the ends of the conveyor screwsduring movement thereof into engagement with the collected pack toassure entrance between the last envelope of the pack and the nextfollowing envelope held by the conveyor screws, means acting in timedrelation with the chains for closing the scissor sections to move saidends off the grippers and into the path of the envelopes to hold backthe envelopes that are carried by the screw conveyors when the chainsmove the grippers for carrying the collected pack out of the collectionstation, and means actuated in timed relation with the chains for movingthe upper auxiliary stop into the path of the envelopes to cooperatewith the ends of the scissor sections in holding back the envelopes heldby the conveyor screws.

16. In an apparatus for collecting and banding envelopes that aredelivered from an envelope making machine in face to face relation intoa collecting station in which aosasss the envelopes gather into a pack,advance to a banding station and thence to a subsequent station foradvancement of the banded packs in pressing contact of one pack againstthe other; means for moving the packs through said stations, includinglaterally spaced apart endless chains located under said stations withone chain being in advance of the other, substantially rigid membersmovable between said chains and having articulate connections with therespective chains with one articulate connection being in advance of theother and in accordance with the advance of one chain over the other; apair of grippers carried in fixed spaced relation upon said members tomaintain upwardly opening pockets therebetween substantiallycorresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means for guiding thechains to provide a substantially vertical upward run below thecollecting station for projecting a pair of the grippers simultaneouslyacross the front and rear faces of the pack collected in the collectingstation, to provide a substantially horizontal run for carrying the packwhile contained between said grippers through the banding station to thelast named station, and to provide a downward vertical run to withdrawsaid grippers downwardly in substantially simuI- taneous movement fromthe front and rear faces of said pack; and means for actuating thechains.

17. In an apparatus for collecting and handing envelopes that aredelivered from an envelope making machine in face to face relation intoa collecting station in which the envelopes gather into a pack, advanceto a banding station and thence to a subsequent station for advancementof the banded packs in pressing contact of one pack against the other:means for moving the packs through said stations, including pairs oflaterally spaced apart endless chains located under said stations withone chain of each pair being in advance of the other and with the chainsof each pair spaced apart, substantially rigid members movable betweenthe said chains of each pair and having articulate connections with therespective chains of each pair with one articulate connection being inadvance of the other and in accordance with the advance of one chainover the other, said members carried by one pair of chains being alignedlaterally with those carried by the other pair of chains; a pair ofgrippers carried in fixed spaced relation upon each of said laterallyaligned members to maintain upwardly opening pockets therebetweensubstantially corresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means forguiding the pairs of chains to provide substantially vertical upwardruns below the collecting station for projecting said gripperssimultaneously across the front and rear faces of the pack collected inthe collecting station, to provide substantially horizontal runs forcarrying the pack while contained between said grippers through thebanding station to the last named station, and to provide downwardvertical runs to withdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneousmovement from the front and rear faces of said pack; and means foractuating the pairs of chains.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, supporting means onwhich envelopes are moved on edge in face to face relation into acollecting station; laterally spaced apart endless chains located undersaid supporting means with one chain being in advance of the other;substantially rigid members between said chains and having articulateconnections with the respective chains with one articulate connectionbeing in advance of the other and in accordance with the advance of onechain over the other; a pair of grippers carried in fixed spaced rela-.tion upon each of said members to maintain upwardly opening pocketstherebetween corresponding to the size of the envelope packs; means forguiding the chains to provide a substantially vertical upward run belowthe collecting station for projecting a pair of grippers substantiallysimultaneously across the front and rear faces of the collectedenvelopes to provide a substantially horizontal run for carrying thecollected envelopes between said grippers and to provide a downwardvertical run to withdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneousmovement from the front and rear faces of said collected envelopes; andmeans for actuating the chains.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, supporting means onwhich envelopes are moved with edges thereof sliding along saidsupporting means and with opposite face sides of said envelopes in faceto face relation; parallel conveyors having flights thereof engagingside portions of the envelopes; retractable stops in the path of theenvelopes and spaced from the ends of the conveyors for collecting theenvelopes in face to face contact; auxiliarystop means comprising a pairof scissor sections pivotally connected together and having endsnormally out of the path of the envelopes when the scissor sections arein open position; means for retracting said retractable stops; means foractuating said scissor sections to bring said ends thereof into stoppingrelation with the envelopes being advanced; laterally spaced apartchains located under said supporting means, one in slight advance totheother; substantially rigid members between said chains and havingarticulate connections with the respective chains with one articulateconnection being in :advance of the other and in accordance with theadvance of one chain over the other; a pair of grippers carried in fixedspaced relation upon each of said members to maintain upwardly openingpockets therebetween corresponding to the size of the collectedenvelopes; means for guiding the chains to provide a substantiallyvertical upward run below the collected envelopes for projecting a pairof grippers substantially simultaneously across the front and rear facesof the collected envelopes, to provide a substantially horizontal runfor carrying the collected envelopes between said grippers and alongsaid supporting means, and to provide a downward vertical run towithdraw said grippers in substantially simultaneous movement; and meansfor actuating the scissor actuating means and the retractable stop intimed relation with said movmg means.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a horizontal supportingmeans on which envelopes are moved with edges thereof sliding along saidsupporting means and with opposite face sides of said envelopes in faceto face relation, parallel conveyors engaging side portions of theenvelopes, a retractable stop inthe path of the envelopes and spacedfrom the ends of the conveyors for collecting the envelopes in face toface contact, auxiliary stop means comprising a pair of scissor sectionspivotally connected together and having ends normally out of the path ofthe envelopes when the scissor sections are in open position, means forretracting said stops, means for actuating said scissor sections toswing the sections toward each other to bring said ends thereof intostopping relation with the envelopes being advanced by the conveyors,means for moving collected envelopes along said supporting means, andmeans for operating the scissor actuating means and the retractable stopin timed relation with the moving means.

Lewis Apr. 3, 19'17 Wmk --..-i s-- S p 1 1961

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES FROM AN ENVELOPEMAKING MACHINE: MEANS FOR MOVING ENVELOPES THROUGH A PATH IN FACE TOFACE RELATION; MEANS IN THE PATH OF THE ENVELOPES PROVIDING A STATIONFOR COLLECTING THE ENVELOPES INTO PACKS CONTAINING A DESIRED NUMBER;MEANS SPACED FROM THE SAID COLLECTING STATION FOR PROVIDING A BANDINGSTATION; MEANS SPACED FROM THE BANDING STATION FOR PROVIDING A STATIONFOR SUBSEQUENT ADVANCEMENT OF THE BANDED PACKS UNDER PRESSURE OF ONEPACK AGAINST ANOTHER; ENDLESS CHAINS; GRIPPERS CARRIED BY THE CHAINS;MEANS MOUNTING THE CHAINS WITH ONE RUN CARRYING THE GRIPPERS ACROSS THEPATH OF THE ENVELOPES AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECTIVE FACES OF ACOLLECTED PACK IN THE COLLECTING STATION, A RUN FOR CARRYING THEGRIPPERS WITH THE PACK THEREBETWEEN TO THE BANDING STATION AND FROM THEBANDING STATION TO THE PRESSURE STATION, A RUN FOR WITHDRAWING THEGRIPPERS AT THE LAST NAMED STATION, AND A RUN FOR RETURNING THE GRIPPERSTO THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST NAMED RUN; MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE CHAINSWITH PAUSES WHEN THE GRIPPERS REACH THE RESPECTIVE STATIONS; PACKBACKING MEANS AT THE BANDING STATION; MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE PACKBACKING MEANS INTO AND OUT OF SUPPORT OF THE PACK WHILE IN SAID BANDINGSTATION; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE RECIPROCATING MEANS IN TIMEDRELATION WITH MOVEMENT OF THE CHAINS.
 18. IN AN APPARATUS OF THECHARACTER DESCRIBED, SUPPORTING MEANS ON WHICH ENVELOPES ARE MOVED ONEDGE IN FACE TO FACE RELATION INTO A COLLECTING STATION; LATERALLYSPACED APART ENDLESS CHAINS LOCATED UNDER SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITH ONECHAIN BEING IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER; SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MEMBERS BETWEENSAID CHAINS AND HAVING ARTICULATE CONNECTIONS WITH THE RESPECTIVE CHAINSWITH ONE ARTICULATE CONNECTION BEING IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER AND INACCORDANCE WITH THE ADVANCE OF ONE CHAIN OVER THE OTHER; A PAIR OFGRIPPERS CARRIED IN FIXED SPACED RELATION UPON EACH OF SAID MEMBERS TOMAINTAIN UPWARDLY OPENING POCKETS THEREBETWEEN CORRESPONDING TO THE SIZEOF THE ENVELOPE PACKS; MEANS FOR GUIDING THE CHAINS TO PROVIDE ASUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL UPWARD RUN BELOW THE COLLECTING STATION FORPROJECTING A PAIR OF GRIPPERS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY ACROSS THEFRONT AND REAR FACES OF THE COLLECTED ENVELOPES TO PROVIDE ASUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RUN FOR CARRYING THE COLLECTED ENVELOPESBETWEEN SAID GRIPPERS AND TO PROVIDE A DOWNWARD VERTICAL RUN TO WITHDRAWSAID GRIPPERS IN SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT FROM THE FRONT ANDREAR FACES OF SAID COLLECTED ENVELOPES; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THECHAINS.